Skateboarder Didal secures spot in finals

FILIPINO skateboarder Margielyn Didal looks for a successful title defense in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China today.

Didal wages war against eight other finalists in the medal round of the women’s street event at the QT Roller Sports Centre at 10 a.m.

The 24-year-old from Cebu faces Ha Siye of South Korea, Nathtiyabhorn Nawakitwong and Vareeraya Sukasem of Thailand, Miyu Ito and Yumeka Oda of Japan, as well as Cui Chenxi and Zeng Wenhui of China.

Margielyn Didal AP FILE PHOTO 

Didal logged 37.86 points in her first run and her best of 41.53 in the second in the nine-player field as she finished in sixth place in the qualification, where the top eight skateboarders progressed to the final round.

Meanwhile, Renzo Feliciano and John Flory Panugalinog were still competing in the men’s street park qualification at press time.

In gymnastics, after the male gymnasts bowed out one after the other, the Philippine gymnastics team is counting on the two remaining female athletes.

Kursten Rogue Lopez, who will turn 18 in November, will vie in the individual all-around finals Wednesday at Huanglong Sports Centre Gymnasium beginning at 3 p.m.

Then Charlie Manzalo, another 17-year-old who was into ballet before shifting to gymnastics, will see action in the vault finals on Thursday.

The male gymnasts led by Miguel Besana and Justine Ace de Leon are already out of contention here but continue to train.

The team can only hope for the best in the absence of two-time world champion Carlos Yulo who is currently in Belgium for the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, which serves as a qualifier to the Paris Olympics.